Case History

DOWEX* Ion Exchange Resins

Avocet Mining Strikes Gold with Dows Developmental Gold-Selective Resin
Site Information
Location:
Malaysia
Purpose:
Enable processing of
carbonaceous ore
Improve gold recovery
Time in Operation:
Over 4 years
Performance:
Successfully processing
carbonaceous ore
20% improvement in
gold recovery

Avocet Mining's Penjom gold mine uses a Dow developmental gold-selective resin to boost gold recovery from
carbonaceous ore. (Photo courtesy of Avocet Mining)

Introduction

Avocet's Penjom gold mine is located in the province of Pahang in the center of Peninsular
Malaysia. Penjom commenced production in December 1996 as an open pit mine with a mill
capacity of about 500,000 tons/year. As Malaysia's largest gold producer, the mine produces
approximately 100,000 ounces of gold per year. Penjoms conventional processing facilities
initially recovered free gold and gold contained in relatively low grade oxidized ores at
recovery rates in excess of 90%. However, once mining began of the higher grade
carbonaceous ores that constitute the bulk of the ore reserves, recovery rates dropped to the
mid-60% range.
Avocet worked with Mintek, a company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, to develop an
ion exchange process to bring recovery rates back up to acceptable levels. Mintek is one of
the worlds leading technology providers specializing in mineral processing, extractive
metallurgy, and related fields. Dow licensed technology from Mintek to develop resin XZ91419.00, which was ultimately deemed by Avocet as the resin of choice for the new
process.

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* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

DOWEX Ion Exchange Resins

Form No. 177-02033-1104

Dow
Developmental
Resin XZ-91419.00

The Dow Chemical Company has decades of mineral processing experience with ion
exchange resins and a keen focus on mining and hydrometallurgical applications. As part of
the companys development efforts for new methods for primary metal separations, Dow
licensed technology from Mintek to develop and manufacture XZ-91419.00 resin. This resin
is uniquely designed for the rigorous conditions of resin-in-leach and resin-in-pulp mineral
processing. The beads are large and resilient, better ensuring separation from ore pulp and
longer life.

Penjom Process

The processing facilities at Penjom underwent significant modifications in order to address

the challenges of gold recovery from carbonaceous ore. The primary/gravity circuit was
significantly bolstered, and a resin-in-leach (R.I.L.) gold recovery process was implemented
in place of the existing carbon-in-leach (C.I.L.) process. Figure 1 is a diagram of the entire
mining process.
Figure 1. The Penjom goldmining process.

Figure1 courtesy of Avocet Mining

Process
Performance

Of the ion exchange resins evaluated, Dows XZ 91419.00 developmental gold-selective

resin was the most economical to operate and was ultimately selected by Avocet as the resin
of choice. When used properly, this resin is highly selective for gold from cyanidation leach
solutions and is economically regenerated using acidic thiourea solution. For maximum
performance in R.I.L. systems processing carbonaceous ores, the resin can be used in
combination with blanking agents, which blind-off the carbonaceous preg-robbers but do
not interfere with resin/gold interaction.
Since commissioning the R.I.L. process in mid-1999, Avocets recovery rates consistently run
close to 85%, a nearly 20% improvement over recovery rates using activated carbon. Based
on these results, Avocet is now installing Dows XZ 91419.00 developmental gold-selective
resin in a new facility in the Pacific Rim.

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* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

DOWEX Ion Exchange Resins

Form No. 177-02033-1104

Conclusions

Penjom is the first processing plant outside the former Soviet Union successfully using R.I.L.
technology for primary recovery of gold in carbonaceous ores. The proprietary Penjom
process using Dows XZ 91419.00 gold-selective resin has been running successfully for
over 4 years at 85% recovery.

DOWEX Ion Exchange Resins

Notice: Oxidizing agents such as nitric acid attack organic ion exchange resins under certain conditions. This could lead to
anything from slight resin degradation to a violent exothermic reaction (explosion). Before using strong oxidizing agents, consult
sources knowledgeable in handling such materials.

For more information about DOWEX

resins, call the Dow Liquid Separations
business:
North America:
1-800-447-4369
Latin America:
(+55) 11-5188-9222
Europe:
(+32) 3-450-2240
Pacific (ex. China): +800-7776-7776
China:
+10-800-600-0015
http://www.dowex.com

Page 3 of 3

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may differ from one location to another and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products
and the information in this document are appropriate for Customers use and for ensuring that Customers workplace and
disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other governmental enactments. Seller assumes no obligation or
liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.

*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

Form No. 177-02033-1104